Nostalgic, twisty, and clever! 

 

They got it wrong. The fear at Y2K was misplaced.  It wasn’t over a knife.  And no one considered Blockbuster to be the main stage.  Yet… out of four employees, only one survived. “Goodnight, pretty girl.” 

 

Fast forward 15 years.  No one ever expects bad things to happen when there’s ice cream involved.  And yet… out of the 4 people at the creamery, only one survives.  “Goodnight, pretty girl.”

 

A town panicked by a serial killer (Copycat?! Original?!).  A very pregnant and determined (read: bad ass) FBI agent. And two unreliable survivors.  This is the formula for one fast paced, wild ride.  

 

The Night Shift is compulsively readable.  The multiple pov and short chapters kept me hanging on, finishing it in mere hours.  There’s a depth of character development and a side helping of police procedural, which made this thriller feel fresh and unique.  

 

Let’s talk about those surprises I didn’t see coming… Some that made me mad.  Some that let me exhale.  Were there also a few implausible details? And did I suspect the culprit?  Yes on both accounts.  But overall, this is such a clever and unique thriller, any minor flaws were easily overlooked. 

 

Many thanks to Alex Finlay, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

 

 

Maddie is awoken in the middle of the night.  Little does she know, those lost hours of sleep aren’t all she’s leaving behind.  Arriving at her aunt’s house hours later, she’s thrown into a completely different life.  One surrounded by big business and big money.  But the thing that may be most daunting is all those expectations and secrets.  

I love a feisty woman, and I love a good coming of age story.  This novel had the potential to deliver on both accounts.  Maddie’s character did have some moxie, and she was forced to grow up that summer.  But unfortunately she, and the other characters, were painted with such broad strokes that they never became multi-faceted or endearing.  

 

I read historic fiction in hopes of gaining a better picture of a time period in history.  And while this novel touches on some scenarios that are rooted in historical truth, the main premise of the book is not.  The author admits she borrowed details from another decade.  However, in doing so, the overall storyline suffers greatly and the book as a whole falls very flat.   

 

The audio narration is exceptionally executed.  Narrated by Shannon McManus and Janet Metzger, the southern charm exuded from their depiction.  

 

Many thanks to Adele Myers, William Morrow, and Harper Audio for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

 

(3.5⭐️)  Glamour, money, and murder.  This retelling of The Great Gatsby captures the scene while showcasing the women’s voices rather than their stunning good looks. 

 

Daisy, Jordan, and Catherine.  The women behind the men.  Those men may have objectified these women.  But those men missed out on how smart and brave these women were.  

 

Jillian Cantor shifts the perspective and reimagines The Great Gatsby from a fresh new angle.  Told in alternating point of view, we get to know these women as individuals.  Their hopes and dreams.  There struggles.  The lives they lead and how that differs from the expectations they once held.  These are full bodied characters, and you’d be a fool to consider them nothing more than beautiful.  

 

The women are given a bold voice, but I found the men to be utterly despicable.  Cunning, unlikeable, and fully repugnant.  While I love seeing women championed, I would have appreciated it more had the men not been so vastly demoralized.  

 

It’s been eons since I read The Great Gatsby, and sadly I feel that impacted my enjoyment of this novel.  It’s hard to appreciate a fresh take when the original feels crusty in the memory.  

 

Narrated by a full cast, to include Julia Whelan, the audio production is incredibly well done.  This is one that easily stands alone without need of the physical text. 

 

Many thanks to Jillian Cantor, Harper Perennial, and Harper Audio for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

Whip smart and deftly written!  I finished this domestic drama/suspense in mere hours.  Full of intrigue and brilliantly layered, nothing is as it seems in Hepworth’s newest novel, proving she continues to be at the top of her game.

 

The novel begins at the wedding of Stephen Astor.  His ex-wife and future wife both stand at the front of the chapel alongside him, his daughters, and grandsons.  In any other family, with any other man… this situation would be outlandish.  But Stephen is no ordinary man.  

 

He and Pam were happily married for decades until dementia stole her away.  And now, their grown daughters, Tully and Rachel, must get used to a newer, younger interloper to their family.  Just who is Heather Wisher, and how did she get her claws into their father?

 

I love a good family drama, and this one is addictive and compulsively readable.  Not only does it unfold in short chapters, the alternating point of view adeptly developed the characters in a way I felt I knew them deeply while also not at all.   

 

This book does have a lot going on. But I found that actually made this plot work all the better. 

That ending!  It’s a DOOZY, and you’re definitely going to want to discuss it. Some people will love it.  Some will hate it.  But most of us never had it all figured out…  Utterly brilliant! 

Don’t miss the author’s note at the end.  Hepworth’s reflection on her dear aunt and the hot water bottle that set this all in motion endeared me even more to The Younger Wife.  

 

Many thanks to Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

 

 

“You know, I read somewhere that 60% of us can’t go more than 10 minutes without lying.  Little slippages to make ourselves sound more attractive to others.  White lies to avoid causing offense.  So it’s not like I’ve done anything out of the ordinary.  It’s only human.”

 

C’est magnifique! 

 

Foley delivers a compelling read that’s easy to devour.  With short chapters and alternating POV, I found myself lost in Paris and absorbed by this mystery.  

 

Jess’ life is a mess.  The only person she can reach out to his her half-brother who now lives in Paris.  Begrudgingly, he invites her to come stay with him while she gets back on her feet.  But when she arrives, he’s nowhere to be found.  Vanished.  Disappeared.  It doesn’t take long for Jess to realize that something just isn’t right. But where will her amateur sleuthing lead her?  Knowledge is power until it becomes a threat.  

 

If I’m honest, I went into this one ambivalent.  (I wasn’t all that keen on The Guest List.)  But it’s Foley, and everyone loves her work.  (Honestly, I was also having major FOMO.) So I decided to give her another try.  And boy am I glad I did!!  From the very beginning, I was lured into 12 Rue des Amants and all of its secrets.  

 

In The Paris Apartment, Foley has perfected the formula for the locked room mystery.  The residence is grand and full of mystique with an atmosphere that is tense and full of foreboding.  The characters are complex and cagey. Full of secrets and full of motives!  Everyone is a suspect.

 

And the unveiling of the mystery…perfectly paced. Clues were revealed while keeping me enrapt and guessing.  And at the end, when I was sure, very sure, I knew what had transpired…the biggest of twists revealed how closely Foley played her hand. 

 

This book made me miss the streets of Paris. But it made me wary of what’s behind those beautiful facades. 

 

The audiobook is an exceptional addition to the print book.  Narrated by a full cast, it adds to the intrigue while giving the characters a distinct voice.  However, with so much going on in the story, I might shy away from using the audiobook singularly.  

 

Many thanks to William Morrow and Harper Audio for this #gifted advanced copy to read and review. 

 

Tense, fast paced, and whip smart! This is espionage on the deadliest stage, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Talk about a mission impossible… Charles Jenkins is at the top of the Kremlin kill list. He has snuck into Russia one too many times in his CIA career. Yet he’s back again determined to ex-filtrate the last 2 sister spies. 

But just as his mission begins, he goes off plan. In a quest to do what’s morally right, he lands in the sites of the Russian mafia, and they may be a bigger threat than the Kremlin. Two women counting on him. Two powerful, cunning enemies 

After reading The World Played Chess last year, I became a *huge* Dugoni fan. I don’t usually read (or watch) spy fiction. But I knew that if anyone could get it right, it would be Dugoni. (And boy did he.) This is the 3rd book in the Jenkins series. I wish I’d read the other two for background, but I didn’t find that it impeded my enjoyment not having done so. 

What most intrigued me was how brutal, violent men were on both sides of this game. Is it possible for ruthless, cruel individuals to also have a sense of good? A sense of morality? 

If you are a fan of an intense game of chess…but one that involves actual life and death, this should be your next read. It’s an intense adrenaline rush that will have your mind working overtime. 

Many thanks to Robert Dugoni, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

“It is up to the next generation of voters, politicians, activists, layers, law professors, and judges to continue to clear the path to a more perfect union.”  

 

Insightful and thought provoking.  In Her Honor, Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell gives a candid account of her years on the bench that reads like a primer on the justice system and memoir combined.  

 

But don’t be misled.  This book is neither boring nor full of legalese.  Cordell is snarky and smart, and she’s seen it all in her time as a jurist.  In this book, she lays everything bare.  As she relays anecdote after anecdote, it felt as though I was out with a friend listening to the struggles and oddities of her work.  Some stories bring tears.  Others outrage.  And some full on belly laughs.  

 

But these case files don’t just evoke emotion.  They also create a call to action.  There are many things in our legal system that work.  But in order to create that more perfect union, changes are necessary.  In the last chapter, The Fix, Cordell uses her experience to outline 10 suggestions for reform.  

 

As the first African American woman to sit on the bench of the Superior Court of Northern California, her transformative work leaves a lasting impact.  

 

Many thanks to Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell and Celadon Books for this #gifted copy.  It was a delight to read.  

Charming, atmospheric, warm.  This is a cozy read about learning to love yourself so that you can accept the love of someone else.  

 

As Cleo approaches her 30th birthday, she finds herself flailing and buried underneath expectations.  Mack’s life has gone a bit wayward and in a direction he never expected or wanted.  Both come to Salvation looking for solitude.  But that’s not what either gets upon realization that they are mistakenly double booked in the only available cabin on the isolated island.  

 

The story started off a bit slowly, especially because of my intense initial frustration with Cleo.  But as the chalk lines were drawn and the residents of Salvation became more familiar, I found myself engaged and invested.  

 

I enjoyed how Cleo and Mack slowly let down their defenses and became friends.  I especially enjoyed how the chemistry built until it combusted into exactly what I longed for.  But most of all, I loved that the focus was always on self-discovery rather than getting lost in another person.  

 

While Cleo and Mack are the main characters, its Salvation and it’s residents that are the real stars.  The quirky and endearing residents made me long to grab my knitting needles and gossip or share a pot roast dinner and pint at the pub.  And the island itself had an ethereal nature that made me long to journey there, even in the worst of storms.  

 

Many thanks to Josie Silver, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

“Roses are red.  Violets are blue.  Someone is dead.  Let’s hope it’s not you.”  

 

Dark, cringeworthy, sexy!  Shades of Her is a domestic thriller perfect for fans of steam and scream.

 

Sage left behind her deep, dark secrets and a very twisted addiction in New York.  Now she lives in a picture perfect neighborhood with a picture perfect family.  But secrets always seem to come unburied, and obsessions never really go away.  

 

Unnerving texts, eerie flower deliveries, and some very hot sex, reveal the many shades of Sage.  And when murders related to her start to pile up, every character becomes a suspect.  This is suspense with a heavy dose of spice and plenty of OMG moments. 

 

Indie author, Arya, delivers another fast paced, quick read.  The characters are multilayered, but none are truly likeable.  And I think that along with the extra (unnecessary) twist at the end took away a bit of my enjoyment.  But Arya’s writing is highly readable.  She manages to make me cringe while also compelling me to see what will happen next.  I’ve never read another book with a sex addiction premise, and this one seemed well researched and creating a unique storyline.  

 

Many thanks to @monicaarya for the advanced copy of this book to review.  Also, check out Arya’s debut, The Girl in the Reflection.  Both titles are available on Kindle Unlimited.  

 

Family and food go hand in hand.  Molinaro’s cookbook may be filled with yummy Korean recipes, but it was the look into her family’s rich heritage that I savored in this book.  

 

I was incredibly surprised to see a cookbook as an audiobook option from my @libro monthly picks.  But when my friend @groundedinreads expressed how much she enjoyed the memoir-like essays in this, I knew I would too.  

 

Molinaro’s reflections before each chapter left me teary eyed and hanging on each detail of life as an immigrant.  She masterfully showcases the way food intermingles with family and culture in an indelible way.    

 

Molinaro narrates the audiobook and brings authenticity and nuance to her family’s stories.  She relays both the stories and recipes in an intimate and inviting manner.